And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
JUDGES 21:23KJVWhat does Judges 21:23 mean?
Judges 21:23 describes how the men of the tribe of Benjamin took wives from among the women who were dancing, seizing them as instructed, and then returned to their land, rebuilt their destroyed cities, and settled there. This verse shows the Benjaminites following through on a plan to restore their tribe after it was nearly wiped out.
The setting is after a civil war in Israel, where the tribe of Benjamin had been almost destroyed. The other Israelites had sworn not to give their daughters as wives to the Benjaminites, so a solution was arranged: the Benjaminites could take wives from women who came out to dance at a festival. The verse summarizes the Benjaminites’ actions—taking wives, returning to their inheritance, rebuilding their cities, and living there again.
The Hebrew behind Judges 21:23
- "took" (נָשָׂא, nāśā’): This word often means "to lift" or "to carry," but here it is used for "taking" wives, emphasizing an active, even forceful, action rather than a mutual agreement.
- "danced" (חול, chul): This word can mean "to whirl" or "to dance," highlighting the festival setting where the women were engaged in a joyful, public celebration.
- "caught" (תָּפַשׂ, tāphaś): This word means "to seize" or "to capture," making clear that the Benjaminites physically took the women, not through negotiation or consent, but by force.
- "repaired" (בָּנָה, bānāh): This verb means "to build" or "to rebuild," showing that the Benjaminites had to restore their ruined towns before they could live in them again.
Why Judges 21:23 matters
- This verse clarifies the unusual and desperate measures taken to preserve the tribe of Benjamin after near extinction, showing the lengths the Israelites went to keep all twelve tribes intact.
- The verse highlights the consequences of rash vows and violence in earlier chapters, as the Israelites had to find a workaround for their own oath not to give their daughters to Benjamin.
- It connects to the wider story of Judges by showing the cycle of conflict, loss, and restoration among the tribes of Israel, and sets the stage for the final verses that reflect on the chaotic state of Israel during this period.